Armenian forward Edgar Manucharyan was a Ratchaburi player until just couple of days before the season opening clash with Port FC, when he was spotted at PAT Stadium training with the Khlong Toei Army. Rumours about what on earth happened – and what could still happen – have been numerous and confusing. Bear with us, here.

“You have to speak with Fluke [team manager Tanawat Nitikarnchana]. It’s a decision of the club. I don’t buy and sell the players.”

Ratchaburi’s Director of Football Robert Procureur shed a bit more light on the situation.

“Edgar is a good player, but there is a problem with his behaviour. He has been fighting with the club president, and he has created some other problems already, so it is more of a discipline problem than a quality problem. He has had problems with many people already, so it was difficult to keep him.”

So, we can be pretty sure that Manucharyan has left Ratchaburi.

Then comes the Port situation. The same day that Manucharyan was spotted training with Port, Brazilian forward Josimar completed his medical and confirmed to The Sandpit that he had signed. With Josimar’s arrival confirmed that meant that Port had 6 foreign players on the books, despite the fact that only 5 can be in the T1 squad at any given time. Last season, Port kept Wagner Carioca at the club in similar circumstances and only used him in Cup competitions, so there is precedent for Port choosing to go in to the season with an extra foreign player. Given this, we can just about understand Josimar’s transfer.

“Forward of the national team Edgar Manucharyan has signed with a new club. Just a day after leaving Thailand’s Ratchaburi, Manucharyan was signed by the Port F.C. of Thailand.”

Manucharyan at training

What?! It’s worth pointing out at this stage that the Armenpress piece doesn’t include any quotes or details from the player or the teams involved, and we have no idea where they got their information from.

If they are right and Port are planning to go in to the season with 7 foreign players, then we will be truly flabbergasted. That would mean at least one of the new signings would have been signed just to be played in the cups or loaned out, as well as the underappreciated Maranhao. What sense would that make? Could there still be doubts about Kaludjerovic’s ability to adapt to T1 football? If that is the case, can Port replace a player who has already played in the league before the end of the transfer window, and if they can would that player be eligible to play in the first leg of the season?

Unfortunately we have more questions than answers, and are so utterly dazed and confused by all of this tomfoolery that all we can be sure about is the Cartesian fact that we know we exist. All else is an illusion.

Having moved to Thailand aged 10, Tom has been playing or watching football in Thailand for more than 18 years. A keen follower of the Thai National Team and an avid fan of Port FC, he is a regular contributor to The Sandpit.

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